Pioneering tech summit hosted at town centre’s new Cineworld

THE county’s first ever ‘tech summit’ – organised by leaders from Barnsley’s hub for digital businesses – saw the launch of a new grant scheme aimed to boost the sector in the town.

The Tech Welcome Grant, funded by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, will provide sums of between £5,000 and £10,000 to start-ups from outside the area to relocate and create jobs locally.

Organised by bosses from The Seam – Barnsley’s digital hub on County Way – leaders including Mayor Oliver Coppard and 188 digital and technology sector specialists came together at the town centre’s Cineworld complex last Thursday.

The Seam – home to two Digital Media Centres and Barnsley College’s SciTech building – is already established as a place where people set-up and grow innovative tech businesses, explore new ideas, study and collaborate.

Mr Coppard said: “Innovation is part of the area’s DNA and we are going to make sure our region flourishes by working closely with stars of the sector to create an action plan for tech growth in our region.

“Digital and tech are the lifeblood of our economy – increasingly, every barrier is a digital or technology barrier, so it’s a vital sector for the whole of South Yorkshire.

“The ecosystem we are building here, and the assets we already have, will mean those businesses and people who do relocate will thrive – creating more value for them, the region, and the UK.

“The Seam is at the heart of Barnsley’s economy by inspiring entrepreneurs, creating talent pathways, growing digital business networks and providing an innovative place to live, work and create.

“Following significant growth in the last three years, the Barnsley Digital Media Centre (DMC 01) is expanding with the creation of DMC 02.

“This is the very beginning of a new innovation campus in the town centre – a place to bring people, business, education and the public sector together to benefit Barnsley.”

The summit focused on the actions needed to ensure the right support, talent, finance, workspaces and culture are in place to help entrepreneurs and innovators from all backgrounds to achieve success.

Tracey Johnson, Digital Economy Lead in Barnsley presented on why South Yorkshire is a great place to locate a Tech business, with a rapidly developing eco system and why creating the right spaces for businesses to flourish is so important.

She added: “The summit was a huge success and celebrated what has been achieved so far.

“The focus was on how we can build on this and move forward with the momentum we have built up.

“There are some exciting things happening locally and UK and global businesses are no longer asking why should we move to South Yorkshire, but why not?” Above: Keynote speakers at the event (left to right): Joseph Quinn, Tracey Johnson, South Yorkshire’s Mayor

Oliver Coppard, Gary Stewart and Darren Balcombe.